How HoneyHill Weddings is Greening the “I Do”
For Cassie Ogren, owner of HoneyHill Weddings, trees have always held special meaning. Long before she was helping couples say, “I do,” Cassie was a young person who believed in beauty and purpose. This was thanks in part to Miss Rumphius (The Lupine Lady), her favorite children’s book. Its simple message, to leave the world more beautiful than you found it, stuck with her.
Growing up, Cassie’s family planted trees to mark life’s milestones. Watching them grow over the years, she learned that something small and intentional could become something lasting. So, when she set out to build her own business, she knew from the start that giving back would be part of HoneyHill Weddings’ roots.
Partnering for Greener Futures
While looking for a nonprofit partner, Cassie’s husband came across Tree Trust’s Green Futures™ program online. After reading our mission, they instantly knew it was the right match. “We didn’t even look anywhere else,” Cassie says. “It involved kids, it involved community—it was everything we believed in.”
For Cassie, a tree is a metaphor for marriage. Just like a healthy partnership, trees take root, grow stronger with time, and adapt to endure life’s storms with grace. That’s why, for every couple that celebrates their wedding with HoneyHill, Cassie plants a tree to celebrate their union. In an industry not often known for environmental consciousness, she’s rewriting the script. Cassie believes that small, intentional choices can add up to lasting change. And she’s proving that weddings and sustainability can grow side by side.
A Tree for Every Couple
As a sponsor and volunteer at Tree Trust’s Green Futures planting events, Cassie’s love of planting trees is reflected in her joyful spirit, work boots, and overalls. She doesn’t just show up to chat; she comes to work. And as a new parent, planting trees has taken on a new meaning for her. In a recent Honeyhill Weddings social media post, Cassie shared: “We actually, physically plant a tree for every single couple we work with. That means there is a tree in our community growing for YOU! There are so many cool things about this, but it has really hit me this year having a daughter. She will drive by all these parks one day and see hundreds of trees growing because of HoneyHill and because of you and that is so killer. Thank you to friends and family and volunteers who help us plant these trees!”
Rooted in Values
For Cassie, planting a tree isn’t just part of her business—it’s a reflection of her values, her family, and her hope for the future. With each tree planted, she’s not only honoring a couple’s love story, but also helping to write a bigger one, rooted in community, resilience, and stewardship of the earth. As her daughter grows up and begins to understand the world around her, Cassie hopes she’ll see those trees and know love can grow into something lasting, beauty can be intentional, and one person can make a difference. Just like her childhood hero Miss Rumphius, Cassie keeps her promise to do something that makes the world more beautiful.
Lupine in Bloom
Curious about lupine? Like in Miss Rumphius, where lupine seeds are scattered to “make the world more beautiful,” these whimsical wildflowers are doing just that across Northern Minnesota. Right now, you’ll find wild lupine (Lupinus perennis) painting the landscape of northern Minnesota in hues of blue, purple, pink, and white. Their tall, spiky blossoms can reach heights of up to 2 feet, creating a show-stopping display that feels almost storybook-like.
Native lupine plays an important ecological role, too. It’s a nitrogen-fixing plant, which means it improves soil health by converting atmospheric nitrogen into nutrients plants can use (U.S. Forest Service). So next time you head north, take a moment to spot the lupine waving in the breeze—it’s not just a pretty flower, but a resilient one, blooming year after year in the wild beauty of Minnesota.
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